Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-05-20
A SHORT-HORN PIG.

ser suddenly turned on me with
"Mrs. Bowser why don't we keep a
pig?"
Because we have no pen, no place
for one, and don't want the nuisance"
"We have plenty of room for a pen
I can make one in half day. and we
might as well raise our own pork as to
buy it. The kitchen stuff you give
away wouldfatten three pigs"
talked and argued, but it was no use.
brought up our poor success with hens,
but he choked me off with:
MRS. Bowser, perhaps you do not
know the difference between heart
broken hen and choice pig, but do,
and we shall keep pig.p
well, don't ask me 10 bother with
it."
"No one intended to! On the contra
ny hope you will keep as far away from
him as possible. You can also buy your
own pork chops next winter"
During the next three days Mr.. Bow
ser was pig-hunting and pen-building,
and at length a terrible squealng in the
alley informed me that his purchase had
been made. went out after a bit and
found thin, cadaverons, wild-eyed
beast weighing about fifty pounds in
the penn He uttered "woof!' and
made spring at Inc as / looked over
and Mr.. Bowser came from the barn and
foared OUT
"What are you doing there? Do you
want to scare that pig to death?
Il was simply looking at him."
We'll you simply keep away for
awhile. That pig is strange. He's got
to have time to look around. Any one
knowing bran from broomsticks would
MT go rushing up to pig-pen like that.
.What breed is he?
"Short-horn, of course. You don't
think I'd fool away my time on COM
mon pig, do your
"Why, never heard of short-horn
pig before."
"Oh you didn't! There are a great
many things you never heard of Mrs.
Bowser, and never willy
HE is very thin."
"Thin! OF course he is! If he was
fat he couldn't hold half of our kitchen
stuff"
"Just hear him take on!
"Go away with you! Its your voice
that excites him. Mrs. Bowser if that
pig bursts blood vessel yon will he to
blame for it, and it will cost you SIS in
cash.
went into the house and the pig
Seemed more quiet. Mr.. Bowser fed
him corn, potatoes, apples, swill, cold
biscuit, rib of cold beef, peanuts, grass,
half an orange and a banana. When he
came in he rubbed his hands and chuck
led'
Seems almost like being on farm
again. ought never to have been any
thing but a farmer"
We had scarcely finished suppe,
when the pig began TO sqneal. Mr.
Bowser went out and walked seven
times without being able to find any
thing wrong. The pig had q good bed
and an abundance of food, but he stood
in the middle OF the pen and kept up 9
ttoleful squealng; and it was not unit
Mr. Bowser knocked him down with g
fence picket that we got an interval o.
rest. He squealed from eight to nine
without break, and when Mr.. Bowsel
came home at the later hour, hi
punched him with hoe handle anC
secured another respite. We had jus
got to bed when the Goleful music
began again.
"He's the uneasiest pig ever saw"
ventured to observe. "and | wender yol
uidn't get some other breed"
"Irs. Bowser did you ever own 6
pig, shoat or hog in all your life"
mo"
"Then don't give me any more talk
When l want your advice | will ask fo
it,"
"But is he to sqneal all night?"
If he wants to-"
think he did. He got a little hoarst
pbout two o'clock in the morning, bu
he managed to make himself heard al
the same. Mr.. Bowser went out ant
fed him cut-loaf sugar and Saratoga
potatoes, and for an hour or two ht
stood in Il corner of the pen and seemed
buried in reflection. Then he suddenl,
appeared in the back yard and rooted vi
six dollars worth of new sodding anC
TWO beds of flowers, and the cook and
had no sooner got him into the per
than he began squealing again. During
the afternoon MIR. Bowser. remained
home and worked the fence pick ct rack.
ct so vigorously that the pig had got il
into his head that the less he was heard
from the better.
The next day the animal got out twice
and it didn't take but twelve of the
neighbors to get him back. After the
first night and. anu from that time tc
tbs night of his death he rested enc
hour and sauealed the next as regularly
as clockawork. The day he diun't ge
tut of the pen was dull day in GU
house. The night We didn't wish him
sieau and threaten to murder him IL
the morning was rare exception. Or
several occasions ] said 10 MIR. Bowser /
81 believe that The man cheated yol
on that pig. never Saw an animal &C
as he does.
Cheated me Oh yes I've lived il
sn;s world tn he taken in bv farme